The Bay Area News Group has been talking to voters at places like World's Fare Donuts in Hayward, a debating class at Santa Clara University and the Rossmoor retirement community in Walnut Creek.

After Wednesday night's showdown between President Barack Obama and GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney in Denver, we got back to some voters to ask them how they thought the candidates did in the debate.

Steven Torres, 42, a general contractor from Fairfield and customer at World's Fare Donuts in Hayward

Takeaway: "Debate-wise, I'd say it was a draw. The biggest thing that worried me was how Mitt Romney seemed to be really trying to appeal to everyday Americans, but really just saying what he thinks we all want to hear. What I took away from him was really just a bunch of lies."

Jacqueline Borino, 19, member of Santa Clara University debate class

Before the debate: Romney

After the debate: Still Romney

Takeaway: "I almost felt that we saw a more moderate Obama than before. He proposed things that I liked that I wished he had said four years ago. But I'm still voting for Romney."

Jesse Romero, 54. Twelve-year-old granddaughter plays on Crossfire soccer team in San Jose.

Before the debate: Leaning toward Romney

After the debate: Still leaning toward Romney

Takeaway: "I knew Romney was from Massachusetts. I didn't know he accomplished so much as a Republican in a Democratic state. It just surprised me. This guy proves he can work with Democrats. ... I thought Obama scored points on Medicare. He put his grandmother's face on it. I got parents that age."

Tom Fryer, 75, resident of Rossmoor senior community.

Before the debate: Romney

After: Romney

Takeaway: "He has been accused of being nonspecific, and I think he was as specific as a person could reasonably be expected to be. ... His answers on Medicare were particularly good. And the idea of the so-called voucher plan that the Democrats have hung around his neck like a millstone, I thought he reacted to that particularly well."

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